Belt-shifter.



C. E'. LIEBENBERG. BELT SHN-TER, APPLICATION FILED IIUG.27\ ISIS.

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wwwa y Www/kw zve Patented Apr. 22,1919.

T @gli CHRISTIAN E. LIEBENBERG, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

BELT-SHIFTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22, 19191..

Application filed August 27, 1918. Serial No. 251,678.

T o all whom e'z may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN E. LIEBEN- Bnno, a British subject of South Africa, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Shifters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a belt shifter and has for its principal object the construction of a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction and particularly adapted for use with stepped pulleys although it might equally as well be used with pulleys of other construction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for securing the shifter in its various adjusted positions whereby the beltl will not be accidentally shifted.

Another object is the provision of means whereby the belt will always be shifted from a larger to a smaller step first.

lVith these and other objects in View my invention consists in the novel detail of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more clearly understood from the following specification and drawings in which z- Figure 1 is a. perspective.

Fig. 2 a transverse vertical section of the line 2-2 of Fig.1, and

Fig.' 3 a longitudinal section through the slidable shifter casing.

In'the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the machine head stock having the stepped pulley 2 rotatably mounted therein. `The countershaft is indicated at 3 and has the stepped pulley 4c secured thereto in any well known manner. The machine head stock, the shaft and stepped pulleys form no part of myinvention as each may be of any conventional type.

Vertically spaced tracks 5 and 6 may be secured to the machine or counter-shaft hanger in any desired manner o and these tracks are preferably formed of flat strips as more particularly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Longitudinally spaced notches 7 are formed in one end of each of the tracks 5 and 6 for the purpose which will be pres ently described. v

A casing 8 is slidably mounted upon the track and is provided in one end with a central opening and in the opposite end with an opening which is offset to provide a prounderstood that the track 5 passes through the openings in the ends of the casing as Shown. The openings 10 are formed in that edge of the casing adj acent the edge of the track without the notches. Longitudinally spaced pins or projections 12 extend from one edge of the casing and the object of the pins or projections will be presently described.

A casing 13, similar to the casing 8, is slidable on the track 6 and is provided along one longitudinal edge with openings 14 corresponding with the openings 10. This casing 13 is also provided with the end open ings the saine as the casing 8 and is also provided on the interior with a spring, not shown, similar to the spring 11. Pins or projections 15 are formed on the edge of the casing 13 and extend in a direction opposite to the pins or projections on the casing 8.

A belt 16 encircles the pulleys 2 and 4L, as shown, and this belt is adapted to operate between thepins or projections 12 and the pins or projections 15 formed on the respective casings 8 and 13. These pins or projections forml a guide for the belt as well as for shifting the belt as will be later .described.

A vertical rod 17 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings not shown and is provided intermediate its ends with a wheel 1S as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Arms 19 and 20 are secured upon the rod 17 the arm 19 being adjacent the casing 8 and the arm 20 adjacent the casing 13. The arms 19 and 20 are set at the angle shown whereby they will extend approximately at right angles with respect to one another and in their initial position will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The vertical rod 17 is spaced from the edge of the casings and the arms 19 and 2O are of such length as to engage in the notches or openings 10 and 14C when said rod 17 is rotated.

From the above detailed description it is thought that the construction and operation of my improvements will be clearly understood. Assuming the several parts to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and i't is desired to shift the belt the Wheel 18 Will be grasped by thehand and turned so as to rotate the rod 17. This will biing the arm 19 into contact With the casing 8 adjacent the first opening l0, or that opening adjacent the end of the casing, and will force the casing against the tension of the spring 11 and thereby raise the extension 9 from engagement With the notch 7. The continual rotation of the rod will bring the end of the arm into the opening and will slide the casing along the track 5. This will shift the lower end of the belt from the larger step of the pulley 2 to the next step and the continuous rotation of the rod Will then bring the arm 20 into engagement with the edge of the casing 13. The

operation Will be the same as described for the casing S and after the casing has been shifted so that the projections Will disengage from the notch the casing Will be slid thereby shifting the upper end of the belt from the smaller step' to the next larger step. After the casing has been adjusted it will be understood that the projection 9 will engage the next notch 7 thereby locking or securing the casings in adjusted position. When it is desired to shift the belt in a reverse direction, it Will be understood that the casing 13 will be first slid and then the casing 8. In shifting the belt will al- Ways be first shifted from a larger to a smaller step. When the rod 17 has been rotated to a sufficient distance the spring 11 will always draw the projections or extensions 9 into one of the notches. As previously stated the studs or extensions 12 and 15 on the casings 8 and 13 Will straddle the belt to act not only as a guide but as means for shifting the belt.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and falls Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A belt shifter comprising a track having notches in one edge thereof, a casing slidable upon the track, projections carried by the casing for engaging the belt, a projection formed on the casing for engaging the notches of the track, and means for sliding the casing.

2. A belt shifter comprising a track hav- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ing notches on one edge thereof, a casing slidable upon the track, a projection carried by the casing and adapted to engage the notches in the track, a spring secured in the casing and engaging the track, projections formed on the casing and adapted to engage the belt, and means for sliding the casing.

3. A belt shifter comprising a track, a casing slidable upon the track and provided With notches in one edge, thereof, a spring secured in the casing and engaging the track, projections on the casing adapted to engage the sidesl of the belt, al vertical rod rotatably mounted adjacent the casing, and an arm secured to the rod and adapted to engage in the notches in the casing for sliding the casing.

et. A belt shifter comprising vertically spaced horizontal tracks having notches formed in one edge thereof, casings slidable upon the tracks and provided With notches in one edge thereof, projections formed on the casings and engaging the sides of the belt, a projection formed adjacent one end of each casing and adapted to engage the notches in the edge of the track, a spring secured in the casing and adapted to engage the track, a vertical rod rotatably mounted adjacent the tracks, vertically spaced arms secured to the rod and adapted to engage the notches in the casings, said arms being at right angles With respect to one another, and a wheel secured to the rod.

5. A belt shifter comprising a track, a casing slidable upon the track, said casing having a central opening in one end and an offset opening in the opposite end, a spring carried by the casing and adapted to engage the track for holding one edge of the offset opening in contact With the edge ofthe track, projections carried by the casing and adapted to engage vthe belt, and means for sliding the casing. v

6. A belt shifter comprising a track having notches in one. edge, a. casing slidable upon the track, said casing having a central opening in one end and an offset opening in the opposite end, a projection formed on one end of the offset opening, a spring carried by the casing and vadap-ted to engage the track for holding the projection on the end of the offset opening in one of the notches in the edge of the track, projections carried by the casing and adapted to engage the belt, and means for sliding the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN E. LIEBENBERG.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. McCoRMIoK, REED L. THOMAS.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentss Washington, D. G. 

